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If you have ever seen any of Erica S. Bream’s posts on Instagram or Twitter, you know that she is an actor’s casting director. She says herself she uses social media as a way to, “dispel myths and provide some transparency” for actors. She also says that we, as actors, often feel casting directors are the gatekeepers of our careers. Erica goes on to say we would be shocked by how much work casting directors do behind the scenes to get us hired. “We are your collaborators…your biggest cheerleaders…talking about you all the time.”  In this episode you will also hear Erica’s take on auditions, labeling, and slates. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Erica as much as I did.    ERICA S. BREAM is in her twenty-first year as a film, television and theatre Casting Director. Recent credits include ORDINARY JOE (NBC), TELL ME YOUR SECRETS (Amazon), ALTERED CARBON (Netflix), and the upcoming series ECHOES (Netflix), THE WINCHESTERS (CW) and more. Notably, Bream has co-cast thirteen seasons of the prestigious Young Playwrights Festival for The Blank Theatre Company.   To follow or connect with Erica S. Bream:    Website: https://ericasbreamcasting.com IMDb: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2083259?s=78c12da0-d0c8-93d7-ed61-7efb59992821&site_preference=normal IG: @ericasbreamcastTwitter: @ericasbreamcast   Watch the Hangry Dead: The Biggest Instagram Movie Ever:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjhU5zmJjqo     If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site.  Follow me on: IG: @tarmeydanielle  Twitter: @TarmeyDanielleIMDb: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1368938?s=eac12db9-28e5-c89e-05ec-124904cd4bfe&site_preference=normal

Towards the end of my conversation with Kristina Arjona, she said, “Nothing has hit me on the spiritual level that intimacy coordinating has.” And I believed her because I had just spent the last hour and 45 minutes talking to her about her role in the industry. It quickly became clear that she is so very passionate about what she does.    She is on a mission to empower actors and to increase the sense of safety for all on set. As she says, “let’s make sure that everyone can go home feeling empowered by what they’re doing.” When she says everyone, she means it. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or even how big of a star you are. Kristina is there for all of us.    Honestly her passion is contagious, and I know that with her presence (or the presence of any certified intimacy coordinator) on set we can all breathe a sigh of relief. So, I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Kristina as much as I did.    About Kristina Kristina Arjona is a certified Intimacy Coordinator through Intimacy Professionals Association. Her latest credits include "George & Tammy" (starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon) and "One True Loves" (starring Simu Liu and Phillipa Soo). Kristina spent 10 years working in the Atlanta film industry as an actor, director, and 1st AD before moving into intimacy coordinating. She graduated with a BFA in Acting and BA in Theatrical Design and Production from Elon University before moving into film and now works in both Atlanta and Wilmington.   Kristina is deeply passionate about protecting and educating actors about their rights in intimate scenes, as well as educating filmmakers and universities on industry standards regarding intimate scenes. She uses her skills on both sides of the lens to increase effective communication and safety for everyone involved. Proudly queer and Latina, Kristina is particularly passionate about working with material involving queer stories, BIPOC characters, and trauma-informed care in sexual violence-related scenes.    Learn more about Kristina Arjona https://www.kristinaarjona.com https://www.atlintimacycoordinator.com https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm6223011/about Follow her on IG @Kristina.Arjona & @ATLIntimacyCoordinator   Intimacy Coordinator workshops and training https://www.intimacyprofessionalsassociation.com https://www.intimacyprofessionalsassociation.com   SAG/AFTRA Resources https://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/SAG-AFTRA_quickguide_intimscenes_F2.pdf https://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/Sex_Nudity_and_You_FINAL.pdf https://www.sagaftra.org/videos/intimacy-coordinators-update https://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/SA_IntimacyCoord.pdf     If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 and visit the group site.  Follow me: IG @tarmeydanielle  Twitter @TarmeyDanielle  imdb.me/danielletarmey    

When I was talking to headshot photographer and actor, Tara Gulledge, the word “essence” came up a lot. The whole point of a headshot is to capture our essence in the shot. Tara and I talked about how that can be difficult because headshot sessions are stressful. She is the one who took my first official headshots, so she knows how I get. We, as actors, know that our headshots are supposed to look like us; however, we also know that the headshot is what gets us the audition with the casting directors. For Tara, she says that if we (as actors) are thinking real thoughts and feeling real emotions, we must trust that our face will do what it needs to do.   Throughout our conversation, she gave tips on how best to prepare for the session, what to bring, and how she works to make the client feel safe and comfortable with her.  She goes on to say something that we have all heard before, “The best thing you have to offer is you.” She says, “There’s magic in seeing someone be authentically them.”    Tara Gulledge is a portrait and headshot photographer based in Atlanta, GA.  Capturing someone’s essence is her superpower. With 10 years of experience in photography and 12 years acting, Tara knows what casting directors are looking for and how to take stand out shots that actors can be proud of.  Her background as an actor allows her to coach actors during sessions, taking them through scenarios and exercises to get that real, honest emotion that will take their headshots from good to great.     To learn more about Tara, or to book a photo session, go to: https://www.theactorheadshot.com/ www.taragulledgephotography.comImdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4832596/   IG: @theactorheadshot   If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 and visit the group site.  Follow me: IG @tarmeydanielle  Twitter @TarmeyDanielle  imdb.me/danielletarmey

 Please note there is some language in this episode. The one good thing that has come out of the pandemic (for me) is that I have been given the opportunity to expand my acting community outside of my physical location.  I have taken classes at the BGB Studios in LA and have joined the Arvold Warner Studios membership in Atlanta.  This means I get to talk to even more people about craft.  Today I asked Ashley Rideaux from BGB and Ellie Clark and Evan Bergman of the Arvold Warner Studios to talk to me about the Meisner Repetition exercise. So many classes include repetition as part of the class, even if they don’t include any of the other Meisner activities, that I wanted to know why.  The basic premise of the Repetition exercise is that you are focusing on the behavior of your scene partner and not focused on the words you are saying.  The words are essentially unimportant.  “It’s an exercise in subtext. What we’re saying isn’t what matters.  Ashley, Ellie, and Evan all talk about the importance of speaking your truth and putting your attention on the other person.  As Evan says, “When you put your attention on the other person, they become more important than your discomfort.”  Ashley points out that the exercise is a way to prevent you from planning a map for yourself in the scene. She says, “If you can’t bring truth and yourself to what it is you’re offering in a scene then nobody cares…You’ve got to show up and be a real actualized human engaging with another person.” For her the repetition exercise helps you achieve that.   For Ellie, “it is setting you up to actually get to the art of doing and crafting and specificity.”   I hope you enjoy my conversation with these wonderful teaching artists as much as I did. After graduating from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts with a BFA in Acting, Ashley did what some would call the impossible, and supported herself for years performing on regional theatre stages across the country. A few of her favorite roles include the titular role in ANTIGONE, Paulina from THE WINTER’S TALE, Ruth Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and Malcolm (among several other characters) in a six-person, all-female cast of MACBETH.  Since moving to Los Angeles, she has appeared in numerous national commercials, indie projects, Annapurna Interactive‘s live action video game, TELLING LIES, THE AFFAIR, and most recently 9-1-1 and AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT. Currently she is wearing the hat of producer, writer, and content creator, and had her first digital series optioned a few years ago. Ashley is a champion of diversity, truth, and finding strength through vulnerability. When she’s not acting, writing, or producing, you can find her teaching yoga, meditation, pranayama, philosophy classes, teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats all over the world.   Find out more about Ashley Rideaux The BGB Studios: https://www.bramongarciabraun.com/bgb-teachers/ashley-rideaux IG: @ashleyrideaux https://www.yoga-with-ashley.com/blank-mpvle   Ellie Clark is an Atlanta-based actress and teaching artist. Her most recent credits include The Wonder Yearson ABC, First Wives Club on BET, and a recurring role on Tyler Perry’s Sistas. She has performed throughout the United States and across the pond in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her most notable credits include Antony & Cleopatra (Cleopatra), Pride & Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella), Marie Antoinette (Marie), Dancing at Lughnasa (Agnes), and A Chorus Line (Sheila). Ellie has taught acting and physical actor training for 20+ years. She is the co-Artistic Director of Arvold Warner Studio in Atlanta, a training ground for artists pursuing film and TV. She is co-founder of Voices Amplified, an arts activism initiative that cranks up the volume on under-represented and mis-represented voices. She also acts as the Chair of Drama for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and is the Movement Specialist for the program. Ellie obtained her Master of Fine Arts from Ohio University’s Professional Actor Training Program, receiving the Martha & Foster Harmon Fellowship for her “exceptional talent and dedication to the arts.” She is trained in the Meisner Approach to acting and has trained extensively with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company over the past 20 years in Viewpoints, Suzuki, and Composition.    Find out more about Ellie Clark www.ellieclark.org  IG: @aka_ellieclark Arvold Warner Studios: https://www.arvoldwarnerstudio.com/allclasses   Evan Bergman is an Atlanta-based actor, theatre director, and educator. His most recent credits include Jerry and Marge go Large, Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret, and the french chef, Charles, in the Adult Swim Pilot Lusty Crest which won its comedic category at SXSW 2020. He can also be seen in numerous commercials and independent features. He served as the acting coach on the short film East’s Paradise. Recent stage credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, Burn This, Big Love, The Merchant of Venice, and Peter and the Starcatcher. Evan is co-Artistic Director of Arvold Warner Studio in Atlanta, a training ground for artists pursuing film and TV. Evan has been an acting instructor at the University of Virginia, Ohio University, University of Kentucky, and Transylvania University and has taught acting at various studios in Atlanta. He also founded Actors Room Atlanta where he does private acting coaching and self-taping for actors.  Evan trained in the Meisner Approach to acting with renowned acting teacher Maggie Flanigan at her two-year conservatory in NYC. He also trained in Viewpoints and Suzuki with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company in their Saratoga Intensive. Evan holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting, awarded by the University of Virginia.    Find out more about Evan Bergman www.evanbergman.org  IG: @evanpbergman Arvold Warner Studios: https://www.arvoldwarnerstudio.com/allclassesMore about me: If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle and on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle imdb.me/danielletarmey    

Every time I interview somebody in the industry, I learn something new.  My conversation with Heidi Rew and Mike Stoudt was no exception.  Heidi and Mike are the co-founders/co-owners of Atlanta Voiceover Studio, which they opened in 2016. Not only do they run the studio, they are themselves full-time voiceover actors, podcast hosts, and on-camera actors. They have a YouTube channel with great videos that cover many aspects of the Voiceover industry and they also have an online training program at Provoiceovertraining.com.  During our conversation we talked about several things, from home studio set up to key mistakes voice actors make.  What I loved most was their passion and enthusiasm for the industry and their craft. Heidi thinks, “the cool thing about VO is that all voices are needed.” But quickly adds, “it isn’t just about the voice.” Mike wants actors to know, “It’s a process, you’re going to fail and that’s OK.  Give yourself time to learn and grow.” He also says, “If this is what you want to do, do it.”  You can probably guess who voiced the NIKE ad.   Heidi Rew is a voiceover talent, actress, host, co-owner of Atlanta Voiceover Studio and former radio DJ. She can be heard in commercials for various companies, including Autonation, GE, Hallmark, Jiffy Lube, Build-a-Bear, Subway, and Belk, to name a few.  Mike has more than 21 years experience in broadcast radio, with the bulk of his time working in one of the nation’s top markets, Atlanta, Georgia. He’s been a voice actor for about that long, as well. In addition to being a nationally recognized voice talent, he’s also worked as an actor since 2005. Whether it’s radio, film or TV, you might have heard or seen Mike at some point. His voiceover body of work includes promos for The Talking Dead (on-going), Warby Parker (on-going), NIKE, Sour Patch Kids, Budweiser, Monroe Shocks, and hundreds more. Learn more about their classes, the resources they offer, and to listen to their podcast go to:  https://atlantavoiceoverstudio.com https://provoiceovertraining.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYwd8G0-JJP-wi9Sd56JWjw/about https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atlanta-voiceover-studio/id1455893244 To learn more about them:  https://heidirew.com https://www.mikestoudt.com Follow them on IG and FB by going to:  @atlantavoiceoverstudio If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 and visit the group site.  Follow me: IG @tarmeydanielle  Twitter @TarmeyDanielle  imdb.me/danielletarmey  

One of the things I love about doing this podcast is the opportunity it gives me to talk to experts in the field. This episode, again, did not disappoint. It was such a pleasure to talk to four-time Emmy nominated writer, Vera Herbert, who is best known for her work on THIS IS US. Vera had advice for both writers who want to break into the field and for actors. She said that it’s always a good idea for writers to get a chance to act, even just one line.  She says it gives them an understanding of everything that the actors have to juggle while on set. Conversely, she feels it is important for actors to consider the writer’s role.  She said it was important for actors to consider the whole of the script or the whole of the story.  Actors need to trust that the writers know what they are doing.   According to Vera, it is important to know more about everyone else’s job.  Why? Because, “it enables you to be more empathetic and more collaborative” and, ultimately will lead to a better project.   Vera is a four-time Emmy-nominated writer and producer, most recently known for her work on THIS IS US. She won the 2017 Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Writing for Episodic Drama for her THIS IS US episode “The Trip” and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for her episode “Still Here” in 2018. Her original screenplay DON’T MAKE ME GO was produced this summer as a feature film for Amazon directed by Hannah Marks and starring John Cho; it is currently in post-production, set to be released in 2022. She started her career as a writer on MTV’s AWKWARD. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and lives in Burbank with her husband.  If you would like to learn more about Vera https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm3418687?s=60bee507-cf25-3a5d-7e1e-08bbc25827be&site_preference=normal If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site.  Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle and on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle imdb.me/danielletarmey    

To say that Erica Arvold is passionate about what she does is an understatement.  Most actors know her as a casting director but, as she likes to point out, she is so much more than that.  She is a producer, a director, and a committed educator.   But one of the things that I most appreciate about Erica is how she loves learning about other people.  If you’ve auditioned for Erica you know that during Covid she started the 30 second stories where actors got to share 30 seconds about themselves that was not related to acting.  And at the end of our conversation, she asked me a question.  That has never happened.  Now you won’t hear that part as I edited it out because the podcast is not about me.  What it did show is that, for Erica, it is as much about the other person as it is about herself.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Erica Arvold as much as I did.   Erica Arvold, owner and CEO of Arvold, has spent 30 years as a casting director, educator, speaker, producer, writer, director and an advocate for screen artists. Erica has contributed to, participated in, or helmed the making of over 140 films, 85 television shows, and countless multimedia & commercial projects.    Casting credits include The Black Phone, Red Notice, Dopesick, Swagger, The Good Lord Bird, House of Cards, Charm City Kings, Harriet, and Lincoln. Erica directed the short films Thursday and Here Today, for which she won ‘Best First Time Director’ at Indie Short Fest Los Angeles. She has served as a producer on projects including Coming Through the Rye, Elemental, House Hunting, Josephine, Texas Rein, Time Machine Guitar, and Wish You Well.  She has been nominated for CSA’s Artios Award five times, inducted into First Lady of Virginia’s Opportunity Hall of Fame for contributing to the economic growth in the state.   In 2010, Erica founded Arvold.Education to cultivate artistic growth in actors and filmmakers, which quickly expanded into offering classes for all humans. Her collaboration with master teacher/actor/director Richard Warner is now Arvold Warner Studio, and focuses on actor & multi-hyphenate screen artist training.    Erica’s career is so full and extensive that you can learn more at her website https://www.arvold.com/casting/   On IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038145/ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/arvoldofficial on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvoldofficial   If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site.  Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle and on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

I was so excited to have the opportunity to talk to Risa Bramon Garcia, co-founder and master teacher of The BGB Studio in LA. I wanted to know why it was so important to her to empower the actors in her studio and around the world. "There is a big difference between the actor who takes ownership of their talent and the actor who does not," she says. Risa goes on to explain that when actors do the work for its own sake, then they feel like they belong. We also talked about the importance for actors to write and the need for more varied stories to be told. Risa's passion for all that she does in the industry was clear throughout. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Risa as much as I did. In addition to being co-founder and master teacher at The BGB Studio, Risa has worked consistently as a director, producer, casting director, and writer. She's had the great fortune to have collaborated with some of the most talented, passionate, and groundbreaking artists in the world both in theatre and film/TV. Risa's passion for teaching and coaching has lead to her collaboration with Steve Braun in The BGB Studio, a creative space and community they created as an artistic home for actors, writers, directors, filmmakers, and casting directors. Here she gets to do it all! You can read more about Risa and The BGB Studio on their website: https://bramongarciabraun.com You can listen to their podcast which is full of great information for actors: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-acting-podcast/id1203009952 5 Self-Care Practices: https://5-self-care-practices.bramongarciabraun.com Meditation bundle: https://bramongarciabraun.com/train-online/3-in-1-challenge-bundle/ Follow Risa on IG @risabg Follow The BGB Studio on IG @bgbstudio On Twitter @BGBStudio If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to the FB group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Not letting the script push you around is something that Burgess Jenkins says in class a lot. But, as actors, we are also told to honor the writing. So, what exactly does Burgess mean? Do we not stick to the writing and the stage directions? For him it’s more about opening up the possibilities that are inherently in the script. He says, too often, beginners typically box themselves in with one single idea based on what the script says. That will make it difficult for actors to be more fluid or flexible and they won’t be able to internalize notes given by casting directors or directors. We have to remember that If it says, “he/she slaps the table in anger”, each of us displays our anger differently. Burgess says the writer is simply trying to convey the emotions of the scene to the reader. You have to bring your version of what the writer is saying. For him it goes back to the difference between executing ideas and “finding the greatness in the work that is underneath.” So do you want to be like everyone else, slapping the table? Or do you want to be the actor that has internalized the emotional context of the scene and taken ownership? Hopefully this episode will guide you towards being an original. Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

When I asked the founders of the Atlanta Actors Collective what they hoped the future of their organization would be, Kevon Pryce didn’t hesitate, “I want to take over the world. I want us to be THE Actors Collective.” It is clear throughout our conversation that it isn’t for any kind of self-aggrandizement purposes that he says this. He, along with Sarah Toran and Rashal James, started the AAC to create a community for actors and creatives based in the Atlanta market. Their goal was, and still is, to strengthen the sense of community and to provide the resources and help that they didn’t have when they moved to Atlanta. It is clear when talking to these young people, they believe that in helping each other we all succeed. As they say, “There’s power in collaboration. There’s power in community.” Sarah Toran is a model, actor and voiceover artist from Chicago, IL; where she trained at Second City. She moved to Atlanta to continue to pursue her acting career in a warmer climate. She has met so many other talented creatives in the tv & film industry through classes, intensives, workshops, events and of course on-set. She has been in numerous short films and television shows and is excited about the new projects she is working on. Kevon Pryce is a writer and filmmaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. He writes film news, short stories, poems, and screenplays. His films have screened at festivals across the southeast such as Atlanta Film Festival, Rome International Film Festival, and Sidewalk Film Festival. Rashal James is a trained Actor/Voice Actor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally starting out in the music industry as a rapper he then decided to pursue a career in film. He trained with a few instructors and soon found like-minded individuals who shared his enthusiasm for acting and helping other actors find resources to hone their skills. Catch Rashal’s work on Disney +, The CW, and Lifetime Movie Network. Together they co-founded the Atlanta Actors Collective. A group focused on building relationships between tv & film industry creatives and is an informational resource for the acting community in Atlanta. If you want to find out more about the Atlanta Actors Collective: Follow them on IG @atlantaactorscollective https://www.facebook.com/atlantaactorscollective If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Passionate is one of the first descriptors that comes to mind when talking about casting director, Rhavynn Drummer. She is passionate about her job and about working with actors. Our conversation covered topics ranging from auditioning, taking risks, to advice she has for actors of color. To actors and creatives of color she says, “Don’t wait for me.” She wants all actors to trust their gift because she relies on our artistry. She tells us, “Take risks…show me your artistry.” Rhavynn Drummer is an award-winning producer, director, and casting director who has always had a love for actors and great performances. She began her career in casting at Tyler Perry Studios in 2007 and continues to cast all of his films, plays, and TV shows. She has directed and produced such projects as Good Girls and Brooklyn.Blue.Sky and was recently hired as an adjunct professor in the theatre and communication studies department at Clark Atlanta University. (bio extracted in part from her website) You can connect with Rhayvnn on most social media platforms. Website: rhayvnndrummer.com IG @rhavynn Twitter @RhavynnDrummer If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle NOTE: There were a few technical glitches in this episode that I did my best to clean up. I apologize for the small echoes heard occasionally and the clothing hitting the mic sounds.

In this episode I talk to Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in the other person in your scene. Even if you have good ideas that you want to put on "display", you can never leave the other person out because that is when “the ride begins.” Actors have to overcome the fear or anxiety of not knowing what is coming next. Burgess says that you can book and be a good actor “executing” the work, but you will never be great if you don’t take the other person in and react to what they are giving you. He says, “you should not be working when the camera comes on. You should be free to experience it with the other person and go dance.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

For Burgess Jenkins, the work of an actor is mostly in the preparation. Your prep is what launches you into any scene and enables you to live the experience. He says once you’ve done the work in your preparation and created your “bridge” to the character fully, then it’s time to play.” All too often Burgess says he sees actors try to control the scene while they are in it. If you do that, then it’s impossible to be artistic and creative “in a big way” and where is the fun in that? Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

In the final installment of my conversations on how people stayed creative during the time of COVID, I spoke to Dr. Joseph Mills, Charis Jeffers, and Noelle Mills-Tarmey. Joe Mills stated creativity looks a lot like wandering, but what he’s really doing is collecting material. He says the creative person has to, “be willing to let yourself have leisure to collect the material to be able to work with it.” For him there is a distinct difference between creativity and productivity. It is important to separate the two as the pressure to be productive can stifle the creativity. For Charis, my second guest, it was important to keep working. As she says, “I need to be in that creative space so that I don’t lose that mindset.” The many monologue challenges offered by casting directors gave her an emotional outlet. It helped that there were deadlines attached, otherwise she claims she would never have completed any of the challenges and writng opportunities that were offered. Noelle When Noelle responded to my question, I thought it would be interesting to get the perspective of a teenager going through this. According to her, writing letters, making lists, creating a YouTube channel were activities that helped keep her mind of the fact that she was stuck at home on her own (well, with her parents). If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about writer and poet Dr. Joseph Mills https://www.josephrobertmills.com Follow on IG @josephrmills On FB https://www.facebook.com/joe.mills.334 Find out more about Charis: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4949626/ Follow her on IG @carrots_jeffers Website https://www.charisjeffers.com/ Noelle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHjDO_C0xIo

These are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. As states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines. In today’s episode I talk to my friend and fellow actor, June Dare. She has always been involved in artistic endeavors, whether it is singing in choirs or with her sisters, acting in and co-producing theater productions, as well as appearing in several film, TV, and commercial works. With in-person events being shuttered June turned back to writing and singing with her sister in Nashville. My second guest is actor and friend, Rodney Williams who used his downtime to study films more closely and try his own hand at writing, specifically in the thriller genre. My last guest on this episode is a familiar one, Burgess Jenkins. Instead of imparting pearls of wisdom about the craft of acting he talks about trying his hand at a completely new creative endeavor: cutting hair. Enjoy part II of Creativity in the time of COVID. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about June Dare @actorjunedare on IG Actor June Dare on FB IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3993982/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Find out more about Rodney Williams @_noexcuses_begreat on IG Rodney Williams on FB IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10257800/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Find out more about Burgess Jenkins @bjenkins34 on IG IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

These are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. Now as states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines. In today’s episode I talk to Alison Haselden, who is an actor, a marketing consultant, and host of the podcast It’s a Slate of Mind. She has found that during this time she has had to adjust her thinking and be OK with her reduced list of things to do. Alison has found that she is having to “fight less with herself.” She also has fallen back on trusting her intuition more on a daily basis. My second guest Laurin Christian, an actor and mental health advocate, has watched movies ranging from Midsommar to Ghostbusters and listened to music while dancing in her kitchen. Through these activities she has found herself often inspired by the acting, the stories, and/or the music. My last guest on this episode is Donna Brown who works at the front desk of a charter school. She has used her downtime at home to forge lasting friendships through TikTok. Her favorite thing to do is duet with someone and, she says, she has found the TikTok community to be incredibly supportive of her creative endeavors. For her, it isn’t about the number of followers that she can get, it’s about making someone smile. Enjoy this first episode of Creativity in the time of COVID. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Alison Haselden: on IG @alison_haselden, @itsaslateofmind IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11027488/ Follow Laurin Christian: on IG @laurinchristian Follow Donna Brown: on TikTok @lynndahand

For this episode I ask Jeryl Prescott to talk to me about the state of race relations in the film/tv industry. We talked about what she has experienced in Hollywood over the last 15-20 years. We talked about the roles Jordan Peele, Ava DuVernay, and Tyler Perry have played in breaking down stereotypes about what black and brown audiences want to watch. When I asked her what she hopes will come of the social unrest, with regards the industry, she says, “Hopefully we will get beyond the numbers game.” However, she does go on to say that the commitment for real change has to come from the top, “That’s where some of the most difficult conversations about bias and racism have to happen.” Jeryl Prescott is an actress best known for her role as Jacqui on The Walking Dead and a series regular as Madame Xanadu on Swamp Thing. Jeryl has also worked on many other projects including Birth of a Nation and High Flying Bird. Find out more about Jeryl Prescott https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367802/ and on IG @therealjeryl If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Actors often have preconceived notions of what the bad guy “acts” like and Burgess Jenkins says it is always a trap. Our character becomes two dimensional. As an actor who has played several bad guy roles, he says actors should say to themselves: “I’m the bad guy and there are no limits. It is candy land. I can do whatever I want.” The key, of course, is to figure out why the character is doing it. What motivates them? What has led to this? How can you justify what he/she is doing? Burgess says justification is one of the most important words for acting. “If, as an actor, you don’t embrace the concept of justification at every turn, then you’re missing out on all the fun.” The justification unlocks “your freedom to go forward with whatever you want to do.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

“Quit trying to hit someone else’s target.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must start doing the work for themselves. When we constantly try to please the teacher, or get applause from the audience, or do exactly what we think the casting director wants, then our work becomes forgettable. He says what you should be seeking when you are acting, “…it’s the experience, it’s the creativity that you should be after.” If that’s what you crave or seek, then “by default the viewing audience will be drawn to you.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

“You can’t take you out of the equation.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must build bridges between themselves and the characters they portray. How do we do this? By figuring out the emotional space our character lives in. You find what they are feeling and then reinsert yourself. The amount of work you have to do is based on how close your character is to yourself. He says acting isn’t about putting on masks, it’s about taking them off. If you take yourself out of any character then it will be hollow and the experience won’t ring true for you or the audience. Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/